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High levels of “bad” cholesterol have been linked to the presence of abnormal brain proteins seen in Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research.

The study raises the possibility that cholesterol has a direct role in the creation of amyloid plaques, which are hallmarks of the degenerative condition.

Bruce Reed, who led the research at the University of California Davis, said: “Unhealthy patterns of cholesterol could be directly causing the higher levels of amyloid known to contribute to Alzheimer’s, in the same way that such patterns promote heart disease.”

Previous research has linked high cholesterol to the emergence of Alzheimer’s symptoms